[Blindtlk] [blindtlk] training centers
Heather Field
missheather at comcast.net
Tue Dec 10 04:17:40 UTC 2013
Hello Inenda,
By law each state must provide training services to their blind citizens and
they provide a state run center where such training can be provided.
Naturally, whether it is actually true or not, the counselors are paid to
say that the state center will provide you with the training you need. Most
of the time, blind people seeking training, who are familiar with the
quality of training available at NFB centers, know that the state center
will not meet their training expectations and goals. Fortunately, by law,
when you are choosing the center you will attend, you have a right to make
an informed choice. That means that your counselors should tell you what is
available at other centers and that you should be allowed to choose which
center will best meet your training needs. Very often, counselors do not
tell their clients about their right to make an informed choice. However,
the law exists and they will follow it if you make them. However, making
them follow the law means that you must inform yourself about your choices
and cannot rely on help from the counselors.
In making and presenting your choice of center, one cannot simply say "I
know that the NFB centers are better and will teach me more effectively and
thoroughly." The concept of "better" is a subjective assessment and they can
argue with you about which is better and they can deny your request.
Instead, the best way to get sent to an NFB center is to say that you want
your training experience to contain some very specific components that the
state center cannot supply. Then, you demonstrate this fact by compiling a
list of things that you want in your training that your local center doesn't
include, and you say, I want training in the basic skills of blindness but I
want what is on this list as well. Then tell them which of the NFB centers
you have chosen because your research shows that its programme does include
the components you want.
For example, most state centers are set up for all residents to live on the
campus. So, you say, I want to attend a center where I live off campus and I
commute to classes every day with experienced blind travellers so that I get
lots of real life orientation and mobility practise.
At NFB centers almost all of the instructors are blind. Typically, the
opposite is true for many state centers. So, you say, I want to attend a
center where most or all of my instructors are blind so that I will be
surrounded by positive, employed, blind adult role models.
Again, many state centers provide training to people with disabilities other
than blindness. This requires blind students to stay in a residential
setting with people who have all sorts of disabilities. Check to see if your
state center does this. If they do, then you can say that you want to attend
a center where all the students are blind because, in this way, you will be
maximising your exposure to positive blind role models, and you will be
continuing to learn new independence skills and nonvisual techniques from
fellow blind students in out-of-class time. Explain that you prefer to learn
in an environment where you are not surrounded by a bunch of other people
who will be watching you.
Furthermore, all three of the NFB centers have a great outdoors programme.
I'm not sure of the specifics but I know, for example, that Louisiana's
students go white water rafting. I know that rock climbing and skiing are
also on the agenda at the Colorado center and at Blind Inc. in Minneapolis.
So, in describing why your informed choice is to choose an NFB center, you
can also say that you want to engage in a confidence-building, active
outdoor programme which includes rock climbing, skiing or whatever the
center you have chosen does.
So, your list of what you want from a training center must be extremely
specific and must contain as many things as possible that the local center
cannot provide. In preparing this list you will need to personally contact
each center and speak with them about what they do provide. Then, based on
what you want to learn, you make your "informed choice". For example,
students don't learn how to travel independently in snow and/or icy
conditions at the Louisiana center. Nor do they go skiing there. So, if you
want to learn how to be a confident, competent cane traveller in snowy and
icy conditions, then Blind Inc. or Colorado will be your pick.
Alternatively, If you're a new braille learner, then Blind Inc. might be
your choice because they have developed a wonderful new braille instruction
programme which integrates the use of refreshable braille devices from early
in the learning process.
So, to summarise, it's not enough to simply try to persuade your counselor
that you want to go to an interstate center. You must contact each NFB
center and find out about the programme offered by each one. Then, choose
the center that you believe most closely matches your training goals. Then,
write a simple document that details what the center you have chosen offers
that the local center does not offer and explain that you are requesting,
under the informed choice provisions of the law, that they make arrangements
to send you to the center of your choice. I have helped numerous people
obtain training out-of-state at NFB training centers and this is always the
approach we have used. You can contact me if you have additional questions
but, I'm sure the staff at the individual NFB centers will be extremely
helpful as they help students with justifying the need to come to their
centers all the time.
All the best with your research.
Warmest regards,
Heather field
-----Original Message-----
From: Ineyda Velasquez
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 4:02 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] [blindtlk] training centers
I think they want me to write it because it's out of state. They said if I
was going to Daytona there would be no problems, which is what bugs me. No I
don't think I am a member.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 9, 2013, at 4:48 PM, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Are you a member of the NFB? If not than you should possibly look into
> joining, only because we have a lot of pull with our state Commission for
> the Blind, now they do have a good point.
> One what is you goal in general:
> First contact the state affiliate of the NFB.
> Let them know what you counselors are telling you. See if the NFB of FL,
> can do what we do here in LOng Island, not all chapters or state
> affiliates do this, so that is why I said to contact them. Our chapter
> president has our members sign a paper that says we are there legal
> advocate with the NY State Commission for the Blind and go from there.
> 2. Write up why you want to go to any training center, NFB or anyone
> else's
> Do you just want living skills or the whole thing meaninglearning to cook,
> clean and take care of yourselflearn better mobility skillslearn
> braillelearn to use a computer Are you looking to go to college, they will
> help with pre-college trainingAre you looking to go to work, they will
> help with interviewing Most important our schools over the others will
> teach you the NFB Philosophy (I think I spelled that correctly), the
> meaning of independence, whether you want to use help or not, when to ask
> for it, etc.It's up to you what you want to do. Write it up, what are you
> dreams of doing.Don't let the state commission tell you that you can't go
> to where you want to go.Call up all three schools and ask for information
> about them.They are in different places in the country, so one place might
> meet your needs over the other.You also need to know if you have a place
> to live once you return from the school of your choosing and not the one
> they pick for you.
> Get the help you want, and do not let them put you to sleep. NFB of
> Florida is a strong Affiliate, we are all family here with the NFB, and
> those that are not members, that can help you in whatever you want to do.
> Sincerely,
> Cheryl Echevarria
>
> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in
> Independent Travel!
> Cheryl Echevarria,
> Ownerwww.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Take the stress out of this year’s holiday shopping with NFB’s Bid for
> Equality national online auction: Black Friday, Nov. 29, to Giving
> Tuesday, Dec. 3. View our must-have donations and register to make your
> Bid for Equality. The future is in your bid! Echevarria Travel has
> partnered with Braille Smith. www.braillesmith.com for all her braille
> needs. Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>
>> From: ivelasquez774 at gmail.com
>> Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 16:39:07 -0500
>> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] [blindtlk] training centers
>>
>> When I talked to devision of blind services I was told I had to write a
>> justification for why I'd rather go to louisiana than daytona and they
>> had to send it to tallahassee to get it approved. Then they'd send a
>> referral.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Dec 9, 2013, at 4:29 PM, cheryl echevarria
>>> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Either the Louisiana Center for the Blind, the Colorado Center for the
>>> Blind or Blind, Inc. They all teach search and discover with cane
>>> travel, living skills, education for college, braille, etc. Plus these
>>> are NFB Schools. If you want to try to get into one of these schools and
>>> you are in FL, try reaching out to Dan Hicks who is the President of the
>>> NFB of FL, or Dwight Sayer who is the Vice President of Fl.
>>> website is: http://nfbflorida.org/
>>> Hope this helps.
>>>
>>> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in
>>> Independent Travel!
>>> Cheryl Echevarria,
>>> Ownerwww.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>>> Take the stress out of this year’s holiday shopping with NFB’s Bid for
>>> Equality national online auction: Black Friday, Nov. 29, to Giving
>>> Tuesday, Dec. 3. View our must-have donations and register to make your
>>> Bid for Equality. The future is in your bid! Echevarria Travel has
>>> partnered with Braille Smith. www.braillesmith.com for all her braille
>>> needs. Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>>>
>>>> From: ivelasquez774 at gmail.com
>>>> Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 16:24:42 -0500
>>>> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] [blindtlk] training centers
>>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>> I am considering centers to go to for independent living. I live in
>>>> Florida and I know there is one in Daytona. But I also read about one
>>>> in Louisiana, which sounds even better. I was wondering if anyone could
>>>> compare both centers or recommend others. I was once told that Daytona
>>>> might not accept me because of other medical conditions, but if it
>>>> sounds better to me then I will fight to get in.
>>>> Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
>>>> Ineyda
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
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>
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